Registration Rights Agreement Dated as of April 18, 2007 among BBVA International Preferred, S.A. Unipersonal, as Issuer Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., as Guarantor and Lehman Brothers Inc.
Exhibit
1
EXECUTION
COPY
Dated
as of April 18, 2007
among
Banco
Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., as Guarantor
and
Xxxxxx
Brothers Inc.
This
Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into this
18th day of
April 2007, among BBVA International Preferred, S.A. Unipersonal, a sociedad
anónima incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain, as
issuer (the “Company”), Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., a sociedad
anónima incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain, as
guarantor (the “Guarantor”), and Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., as initial purchaser (the
“Initial Purchaser”) under the terms of the Purchase Agreement (as defined
below).
This
Agreement is made pursuant to a purchase agreement, dated as of March 29,
2007,
among the Company, the Guarantor and the Initial Purchaser (the “Purchase
Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchaser
of an aggregate of 600,000 Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-cumulative Guaranteed
Preferred Securities (participaciones preferentes), Series C, par value
$1,000 per share (the “Preferred Securities”). Payment of
distributions (remuneración) on the Preferred Securities, as
well as payment of the redemption price for the Preferred Securities upon
any
redemption thereof and the liquidation distribution of the Preferred Securities
upon the winding-up or liquidation of the Company will be unconditionally
guaranteed by the Guarantor to the extent provided in a guarantee of
the Guarantor for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the
Preferred Securities. In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to
enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Guarantor and the Company have agreed
with the Initial Purchaser to provide to the Holders (as defined below) the
registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of
this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase
Agreement. The obligations of the Company and the Guarantor set forth
herein are joint and several.
In
consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1.
Definitions.
As
used in
this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following
meanings:
“1933
Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to
time.
“1934
Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of l934, as amended from time
to
time.
“Affiliate”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“Business
Day” shall mean a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which
banking institutions in any of New York, New York, United States, Madrid,
Spain
or, to the extent the Preferred Securities are listed on the London Stock
Exchange, and the rules of the London Stock Exchange so require, London are
authorized or required to close.
“Calculation
Agent” shall mean the Bank of New York, as calculation agent under the
Registrar and Transfer and Paying Agency and Calculation Agency Agreement,
or
its successor.
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“Closing
Date” shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the Purchase
Agreement.
“Company”
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the
Company’s successors.
“CUSIP
number” means the alphanumeric designation assigned to a security by
Standard and Poor’s CUSIP Service Bureau.
“Depositary”
shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other depositary appointed
by
the Company or the Guarantor; provided, however, that such
depositary must have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City
of New
York.
“Exchange
Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company and the Guarantor of
Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1
hereof.
“Exchange
Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the 1933 Act effected
pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
“Exchange
Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration
statement on Form F-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form), and
all
amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all documents
incorporated by reference therein.
“Exchange
Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.
“Exchange
Securities” shall mean preferred securities issued by the Company containing
terms identical to the Preferred Securities in all material respects and
guarantees, issued by the Guarantor, containing terms identical to the Guarantee
(except in each case for references to certain liquidated damages
provisions, restrictions on transfers and restrictive legends), to be offered
to
Holders of Preferred Securities in exchange for Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Exchange Offer.
“Guarantee”
shall mean the guaranteed payment of distributions
(remuneración) on the Preferred Securities, as well as payment
of the redemption price for the Preferred Securities upon any redemption
thereof
and the liquidation distribution of the Preferred Securities upon the winding-up
or liquidation of the Company to the extent provided in a guarantee of the
Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Preferred
Securities.
“Guarantor”
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the
Guarantor’s successors.
“Holder”
shall mean the Initial Purchaser, for so long as it owns any Registrable
Securities, and each of its successors, assigns and direct and indirect
transferees, any registered owners of Registrable Securities, and each
Participating Broker-Dealer that holds Exchange Securities for so long as
such
Participating Broker-Dealer is required to deliver a
2
Prospectus
meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of
such
Exchange Securities.
“Initial
Purchaser” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Liquidated
Damages” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5
hereof.
“Majority
Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the outstanding Registrable
Securities; provided, however, that whenever the consent or
approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is
required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or the Guarantor
or any “affiliate” (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the 0000 Xxx) of
the Company or the Guarantor shall be disregarded in determining whether
such
consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.
“NASD”
shall mean the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
“Participating
Broker-Dealer” shall mean Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. and any other
broker-dealer which makes a market in the Preferred Securities and exchanges
Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer for Exchange
Securities.
“Person”
shall mean an individual, partnership (general or limited), corporation,
limited
liability company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust
or
unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision
thereof.
“Private
Exchange” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1
hereof.
“Private
Exchange Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1
hereof.
“Prospectus”
shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, including
any
preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented
by
any prospectus supplement, including any such prospectus supplement with
respect
to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities
covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and
supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and in
each
case including all material incorporated by reference therein.
“Purchase
Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Registrable
Securities” shall mean the Preferred Securities, the Guarantee and, if
issued, the Private Exchange Securities; provided, however, that
the Preferred Securities, the Guarantee and, if issued, the Private Exchange
Securities, shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a Registration
Statement with respect to such Preferred Securities and the Guarantee shall
have
been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Preferred Securities
and the
Guarantee shall have been disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement,
(ii) such Preferred Securities and the Guarantee are eligible to be sold
to the
public pursuant to Rule l44 (or any similar provision then in force, but
not
Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act, (iii) such Preferred Securities and the Guarantee
shall have ceased to be outstanding or (iv) the Exchange Offer is completed
(except in the case of Preferred
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Securities
and Guarantee purchased from the Company and the Guarantor continuing to
be held
by the Initial Purchaser and having the status of an unsold allotment in
the
initial distribution).
“Registrar
and Transfer and Paying Agency and Calculation Agency Agreement” shall mean
the Registrar and Transfer and Paying Agency and Calculation Agency Agreement,
dated April 18, 2007, among the Company, the Guarantor and the Bank of New
York.
“Registrar
and Transfer and Paying Agent” shall mean the Bank of New York, as registrar
and transfer agent under the Registrar and Transfer and Paying Agency Agreement,
or its successor.
“Registration
Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5
hereof.
“Registration
Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or
compliance by the Company and the Guarantor with this Agreement, including
without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or the NASD
registration and filing fees, including, if applicable, the reasonable fees
and
expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” (and its counsel) that is
required to be retained by any Holder of Registrable Securities in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the NASD, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred
in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws and
compliance with the rules of the NASD (including reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for any underwriters or Holders that are initial
purchasers in connection with blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange
Securities or Registrable Securities and any filings with the NASD),
(iii)
the
cost of preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and
distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or
supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements
and other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this
Agreement, including, but not limited to, any expenses of counsel to the
Company and the Guarantor, (iv) all fees and expenses incurred in connection
with the listing of any of the Registrable Securities on any such securities
exchanges as the Company and the Guarantor may determine, (v) any rating
agency
fees, (vi)
the
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantor and of
the
independent public accountants of the Company and the Guarantor, including
the
expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by Holders or
underwriters of Registrable Securities who may be entitled to request such
audits or letters pursuant to this Agreement and (vii) the fees and expenses
of
the Registrar and Transfer and Paying Agent, the Calculation Agent and any
escrow agent or custodian.
“Registration
Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Company and the
Guarantor which covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and all amendments and supplements
to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments,
in each
case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and
all
material incorporated by reference therein.
“SAS
72” shall mean Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72, as amended or
supplemented from time to time.
4
“SEC”
shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor
agency or government body, performing the functions currently performed by
the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Shelf
Registrable Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.5.
“Shelf
Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2
hereof.
“Shelf
Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the
Company and the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 of this
Agreement, which covers all of the Registrable Securities or all of the Private
Exchange Securities on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933
Act, or
any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and
supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments,
in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, and upon request,
all
exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
“Special
Counsel” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(g)(i)
hereof.
“Suspension
Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c)
hereof.
“Underwriter”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
2.
Registration Under the 1933 Act.
2.1
Exchange Offer. Each of the Company and the Guarantor shall, for the
benefit of the Holders, at the Company’s and the Guarantor's cost, (A) use its
reasonable best efforts to prepare and, as soon as practicable within 270
days
following the Closing Date, file with the SEC an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement on an appropriate form under the 1933 Act with respect to a proposed
Exchange Offer and the issuance and delivery to the Holders, in exchange
for the
Registrable Securities (other than Private Exchange Securities), of a like
amount of Exchange Securities, (B) use its reasonable best efforts to cause
the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective under the
1933
Act within 360 days of the Closing Date, (C) use its reasonable best efforts
to
keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective until the closing
of
the Exchange Offer, (D) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange
Offer to be completed not later than 390 days following the Closing Date,
and
(E) for a period of 90 days following the consummation of the Exchange Offer,
to
make available a Prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act to any
such participating broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of
any
Exchange Securities acquired in the Exchange Offer. If the Company
has not completed the Exchange Offer within 405 days of the Closing
Date, then the Company will file as promptly as practicable a Shelf
Registration Statement (as described in Section 2.2 hereof). The
Exchange Securities will be issued under the Registrar and Transfer and Paying
Agency and Calculation Agency Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor
shall
promptly commence the Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Exchange
Offer to enable each Holder eligible and electing to exchange Registrable
Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder (a) is not
an
“affiliate” (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the 0000 Xxx) of the
Company or the Guarantor, (b) is not a broker-dealer tendering Registrable
Securities acquired directly from
5
the
Company or the Guarantor for its own account, (c) acquired the Exchange
Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business and (d) has no
arrangements or understandings with any Person to participate in the Exchange
Offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Securities) to transfer
such
Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations
or
restrictions under the 1933 Act or under state securities or blue sky laws.
Exchange Securities will be issued under the Exchange Offer as evidence of
the
same continuing rights and preferences under the Preferred Securities and
the
Guarantee. Under no circumstances will the surrender of the Preferred Securities
and the issue of Exchange Securities constitute new securities or obligate
the
Company and the Guarantor to redeem the Preferred Securities.
In
connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantor
shall:
(a)
mail
as promptly as practicable to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming
part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate
letter of transmittal and related documents;
(b)
keep
the Exchange Offer open for acceptance for a period of not fewer than 20
Business Days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders (or
longer
if required by applicable law) (such period referred to herein as the “Exchange
Period”);
(c)
utilize the services of the Depositary for the Exchange Offer;
(d)
permit
Holders to withdraw tendered Registrable Securities at any time prior to
5:00
PM, New York City time, on the last Business Day of the Exchange Period,
by
sending to the institution specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the amount
of
Registrable Securities delivered for exchange, and a statement that such
Holder
is withdrawing such Holder’s election to have such Preferred Securities
exchanged;
(e)
notify
each Holder that any Registrable Securities not tendered will remain
outstanding, but will not retain any rights under this Agreement (except
in the
case of the Initial Purchaser and Participating Broker-Dealers as provided
herein); and
(f)
otherwise comply in all respects with all applicable laws relating to the
Exchange Offer.
If,
prior
to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial Purchaser holds any Preferred
Securities acquired by it and having the status of an unsold allotment in
the
initial distribution, the Company and the Guarantor upon the request of the
Initial Purchaser shall, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities in the Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to the Initial Purchaser
in
exchange (the “Private Exchange”) for the Preferred Securities held by the
Initial Purchaser, a like number of Preferred Securities of the Company,
unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor as to payment of distributions
(remuneración) on the Preferred Securities, as well as payment
of the redemption price for the Preferred Securities upon any redemption
thereof
and the liquidation distribution of the Preferred Securities upon the winding-up
or liquidation of the Company, that are identical
6
(except
that such Preferred Securities and Guarantee shall bear appropriate transfer
restrictions) to the Exchange Securities (the “Private Exchange
Securities”).
The
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities shall be issued under
(i)
the
Registrar and Transfer and Paying Agency and Calculation Agency Agreement
or
(ii) a registrar and transfer and paying agency and calculation agency agreement
identical in all material respects to the Registrar and Transfer and Paying
Agency and Calculation Agency Agreement, and shall provide that the Exchange
Securities shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in
the
Registrar and Transfer and Paying Agency and Calculation Agency Agreement
but
that the Private Exchange Securities shall be subject to such transfer
restrictions. The Private Exchange Securities shall be of the same
series as, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure
that the Private Exchange Securities bear the same CUSIP number as, the Exchange
Securities.
As
soon as
practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and/or the Private Exchange,
as the case may be, the Company and the Guarantor shall:
(i)
accept
for exchange all Registrable Securities duly tendered and not validly withdrawn
pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the terms of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement and the letter of transmittal which shall be
an
exhibit thereto;
(ii)
accept for exchange all Registrable Securities properly tendered and not
validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Private Exchange;
(iii)
deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Registrar and Transfer and Paying
Agent for cancellation all Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange;
and
(iv)
cause
the Registrar and Transfer and Paying Agent promptly to authenticate and
deliver
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, to
each
Holder of Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange in number equal
to the
number of the Registrable Securities of such Holder so accepted for
exchange.
Distributions
on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security will accrue from
the
last date on which distributions were paid on the Registrable Securities
surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no distributions have been paid on
the
Registrable Securities, from the date of original issuance. The
Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange shall not be subject to any
conditions, other than (i) that the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange,
or
the making of any exchange by a Holder, as the case may be, does not violate
applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC,
(ii)
the valid tendering of Registrable Securities in accordance with the Exchange
Offer and the Private Exchange, (iii) that each Holder of Registrable Securities
exchanged in the Exchange Offer shall have represented that all Exchange
Securities to be received by it shall be acquired in the ordinary course
of its
business and that at the time of the consummation of the Exchange Offer it
shall
have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution (within the meaning of the 0000 Xxx) of the Exchange Securities
and
shall have made such other representations as may be reasonably necessary
under
applicable SEC rules, regulations or
7
interpretations
to render the use of Form F-4 or other appropriate form under the 1933 Act
available and (iv) that no action or proceeding shall have been instituted
or
threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect
to
the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange which, in the judgment of the
Company
and the Guarantor, would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of
the
Company or the Guarantor to proceed with the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange. The Company and the Guarantor shall, to the extent such
information is available to the Company or the Guarantor, inform the Initial
Purchaser of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange
Offer
is made, subject to the right of any Holder to object to the disclosure of
such
information with respect to such Holder, and the Initial Purchaser shall
have
the right, subject to applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise
facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange
Offer.
Upon
consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this Agreement, the
Company and the Guarantor shall have no further obligation to register the
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement.
2.2
Shelf Registration. (i) If, because of any change in law, SEC rules or
regulations or applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the SEC,
the
Company and the Guarantor determine after consultation with its outside counsel
that the Company or the Guarantor is not permitted to effect the Exchange
Offer
as contemplated by Section 2.1 hereof, (ii) if for any other reason (A) the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective within 360
days
following the Closing Date or (B) the Exchange Offer is not completed within
405
days after the Closing Date, (iii) if the Initial Purchaser is holding Private
Exchange Securities issued with respect to Registrable Securities that were
not
eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer or
if the
Initial Purchaser does not receive freely tradable Exchange Securities in
the
Exchange Offer, upon the request of the Initial Purchaser, (iv) upon notice
of any Holder (other than the Initial Purchaser) given to the Company or
the
Guarantor in writing within 35 days after the commencement of the Exchange
Offer
to the effect that (A) due to a change in law or SEC policy it is not entitled
to participate in the Exchange Offer, (B) due to a change in law or SEC policy
it may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Exchange
Offer
to the public without delivering a prospectus and the prospectus contained
in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available
for
such resales by such Holder or (C) it is a broker-dealer and owns Registrable
Securities acquired directly from the Company or the Guarantor or an “affiliate”
of the Company or the Guarantor (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under
the 0000 Xxx) or (v) the holders of a majority of the Exchange Securities
may
not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by them in the Exchange Offer
to the
public without restriction under the 1933 Act and without restriction under
applicable blue sky or state securities laws, then in case of each of clauses
(i) through (v) the Company and the Guarantor shall, if permitted under
applicable law, SEC rules and regulations and applicable interpretations,
thereof by the Staff of the SEC, at their cost:
(a)
As
promptly as practicable, file with the SEC, and thereafter shall use their
reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective as promptly as
practicable but no later than 450 days after the Closing Date, a Shelf
Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Registrable
Securities by the Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods
of
distribution elected by the
8
Majority
Holders participating in the Shelf Registration and set forth in such Shelf
Registration Statement.
(b)
Use
their reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
continuously effective in order to permit the Prospectus forming part thereof
to
be usable by Holders until the earlier of (A) two years from the date the
Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, (B) the date on
which
the Registrable Securities become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k)
or
any successor provision or (C) the date on which all Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the
Shelf
Registration Statement or cease to be outstanding or otherwise to be Registrable
Securities (the “Effectiveness Period”); provided, however, that
the Effectiveness Period in respect of the Shelf Registration Statement shall
be
extended if and to the extent necessary to permit dealers to comply with
the
applicable prospectus delivery requirements of Rule 174 under the 1933 Act
and
as otherwise provided herein.
(c)
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, use their reasonable best efforts
to ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto
and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies
in
all material respects with the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto
does
not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material
fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to
make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any Prospectus forming
part
of any Shelf Registration Statement, and any supplement to such Prospectus
(as
amended or supplemented from time to time), does not include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in
order
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they
were made, not misleading.
The
Company and the Guarantor further agree, if necessary, to supplement or amend
the Shelf Registration Statement, as required by Section 3(b) below, and
to
furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement
or amendment as promptly as reasonably practicable after being used or
filed with the SEC.
2.3
Expenses. The Company and the Guarantor shall pay all Registration
Expenses in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2.1 or
2.2. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions
and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement.
2.4
Effectiveness. (a) The Company and the Guarantor will be deemed not to
have used reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, to become,
or
to remain, effective during the requisite period if either of the Company
or the
Guarantor, as the case may be, voluntarily takes any action that would, or
omits
to take any action which omission would, result in any such Registration
Statement not being declared effective or in the Holders of Registrable
Securities covered thereby not being able to exchange or offer and sell such
Registrable Securities during that period as and to the extent contemplated
hereby, unless (i) such action
9
is
required by applicable law, or (ii) such action is taken by the Company or
the
Guarantor in good faith and for valid business reasons (which shall not include
avoidance of the Company’s or the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder), including
the acquisition or divestiture of assets or a material corporate transaction
or
event, so long as the Company and the Guarantor promptly thereafter comply
with
the requirements of Section 3(k) hereof, if applicable.
(b)
An
Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof or a
Shelf
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof will not be deemed
to have
become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC;
provided, however, that if, after it has been declared effective,
the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with
by
any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any
other
governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement will be deemed
not to
have become effective during the period of such interference, until the offering
of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally
resume.
(c)
During
any period of 365 consecutive days, the Company and the Guarantor may suspend
the availability of a Shelf Registration Statement and the use of a related
Prospectus for periods up to 45 consecutive days (each such period, a
“Suspension Period”) (except for such 45-day period immediately prior to any
date fixed for redemption of the Preferred Securities), but no more than
an
aggregate of 60 days during any period of 365 consecutive days, if (A) any
event
shall occur as set forth in Section 2.4(a)(i) or (ii) or as a result of which
it
shall be necessary, in the good faith determination of the board of directors
of
the Guarantor, to amend the Shelf Registration Statement or amend or supplement
any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereunder in order that each such
document not include any untrue statements of material fact or omit to state
a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (B) the Guarantor
has not filed with the SEC the financial statements required by the applicable
rules and regulations for the Shelf Registration Statement to remain active;
provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantor shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file any such amendment or
supplement as promptly as practicable. The two-year period referred to in
Section 2.2(b) shall be extended by an amount of time equal to all such
Suspension Periods.
2.5
Liquidated Damages. In the event that (a) the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement has not been declared effective on or prior to the 360th calendar
day
following the Closing Date or (b) the Exchange Offer is not completed on
or
prior to the 405th calendar
date after
the Closing Date and a Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective
on
or prior to the 450th calendar
day
following the Closing Date (each such event referred to in clauses (a)
or (b)
above, a “Registration Default”), liquidated damages shall be payable
(“Liquidated Damages”) in respect of outstanding Registrable Securities at the
rate of (x) one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum upon the occurrence
of
any Registration Default on or after the 360th
calendar day following the Closing Date
and (y) one-half of one
percent (0.50%) per annum upon the occurrence of any Registration Default
on or
after the 405th
calendar day following the Closing
Date; provided, however, that the maximum aggregate amount
of such Liquidated Damages will in no event exceed one-half of one percent
(0.50%) per annum in respect of all Registration Defaults occurring at any
one
time. To the extent that Liquidated
10
Damages
have become payable due to the occurrence of one of the Registration Defaults,
then immediately following (1) the consummation of the Exchange Offer or
(2) the
effectiveness of a Shelf Registration, as the case may be (such event referred
to in clauses (1) or (2) above, a "Registration Remedy"), then the accrual
of
Liquidated Damages with respect to that particular Registration Default will
cease. Upon the earlier of the implementation of all necessary
Registration Remedies or the date on which the Exchange Securities are eligible
for sale pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the 1933 Act or any successor provision,
the accrual of Liquidated Damages will cease.
If
the
Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective but becomes unusable by
the
Holders of Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement
(“Shelf Registrable Securities”) for any reason, and the number of days in any
consecutive 365 day period for which the Shelf Registration Statement shall
not
be usable exceeds 60 days in the aggregate, then Liquidated Damages shall
be
payable in respect of outstanding Registrable Securities at the rate of one-half
of one percent (0.50%) per annum beginning on the 61st such day
that such
Shelf Registration Statement remains unusable; provided, however,
that the maximum aggregate amount of such Liquidated Damages payable (inclusive
of any Liquidated Damages that are payable on such Shelf Registrable Securities
pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 2.5) will in no event exceed
one-half of one percent (0.50%) per annum. Upon the Shelf
Registration Statement once again becoming available for use, Liquidated
Damages
will cease to be payable. Liquidated Damages shall be computed based
on the actual number of days elapsed in each period for which Liquidated
Damages
are payable.
The
Company and the Guarantor shall notify the Registrar and Paying Agent within
five Business Days after each and every date on which an event occurs in
respect
of which Liquidated Damages are required to be paid (each, an “Event
Date”). Liquidated Damages shall be paid in the same manner as
distributions pursuant to the Registrar and Transfer and Paying Agency and
Calculation Agency Agreement. Liquidated Damages due shall be payable
on each distribution payment date to the record Holder of Preferred Securities
entitled to receive the distribution payment, if any, to be paid on such
date as
set forth in the registry. Each obligation to pay Liquidated Damages shall
be
deemed to accrue from and including the day following the applicable Event
Date
and shall be a joint and several obligation of the Company and the
Guarantor. The joint and several obligations of the Company and the
Guarantor to pay Liquidated Damages are not subordinated obligations; Liquidated
Damages will be payable regardless of whether the Guarantor (a) has
distributable profits or (b) fails to meet its required capital
ratios.
2.6
London Stock Exchange. The Company and the Guarantor shall, for the
benefit of the Holders, use its reasonable best efforts to (A) file an
application to list the Exchange Securities and the Shelf Registrable
Securities, if any, on the London Stock Exchange; (B) inform the London Stock
Exchange and cause notice to be published in a leading English language daily
newspaper with circulation in the United Kingdom (which is expected to be
the
Financial Times) prior to commencing the Exchange Offer and/or upon the
filing of Shelf Registration; (C) to the extent required by applicable
regulation, provide to the London Stock Exchange documents relating to the
Exchange Offer or Shelf Registration and consummate the exchange at the office
of the Bank of New York (or any successor thereto if applicable) the listing,
paying and transfer agent in London and (D) notify the London Stock Exchange
of
11
the
results of the Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration, including any increase
in the rate of distributions, and to cause such notice to be published in
a
leading English language daily newspaper with circulation in the United Kingdom
(which is expected to be the Financial Times).
3.
Registration Procedures.
In
connection with the obligations of the Company
and the
Guarantor with respect to Registration Statements and pursuant to Sections
2.1
and 2.2 hereof, the Company and the Guarantor shall:
(a)
prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement, within the relevant
time
period specified in Section 2, on the appropriate form under the 1933 Act,
which
form (i)
shall
be selected by the Company and the Guarantor; (ii) shall, in the case of
a Shelf
Registration, be available for the sale of the Shelf Registrable Securities
by
the selling Holders thereof; and (iii) shall comply as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include or incorporate
by reference all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith
or incorporated by reference therein, and use their reasonable best efforts
to
cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective
in
accordance with Section 2 hereof;
(b)
subject to Section 2.4 hereof, prepare and file with the SEC such amendments
and
post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary
under applicable law to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period as provided for in Section 2 hereof; and cause each Prospectus
to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented
to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provision then
in
force) under the 1933 Act and comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act,
the
1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to them with
respect to the disposition of all Preferred Securities covered by each
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance, in the
case
of a Shelf Registration, with the intended method or methods of distribution
by
the selling Holders thereof (including sales by any Participating
Broker-Dealer);
(c)
in the
case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities,
at least five business days prior to filing, that a Shelf Registration Statement
with respect to the Registrable Securities is being filed and advising such
Holders that the distribution of Registrable Securities will be made in
accordance with the method selected by the Initial Purchaser or, if
the Initial Purchaser is not participating in the Shelf Registration, by
the Majority Holders participating in the Shelf Registration; (ii) furnish
to
each Holder of Registrable Securities and to each underwriter of an underwritten
offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies
of
each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment
or
supplement thereto and such other documents as the Initial Purchaser, Majority
Holders or underwriter, selected by the Initial Purchaser or Majority Holders,
as the case may be, may reasonably request considering the method of
distribution selected by the Initial Purchaser or, if the Initial Purchaser
is
not participating in the Shelf Registration, by the Majority Holders, as
the
case may be, including financial statements and schedules and, if any Holder
so
requests, all exhibits (but not more than one set of such exhibits for each
Holder) in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition
12
of
the
Registrable Securities; and (iii) hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus
together with any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders
of Registrable Securities, subject to and in accordance with applicable law,
in
connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered
by
the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(d)
use
their reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities
under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions
as the Initial Purchaser or, if the Initial Purchaser is not participating
in
the Shelf Registration, by the Majority Holders participating in the Shelf
Registration and each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable
Securities shall reasonably request by the time the applicable Registration
Statement is declared effective by the SEC, and do any and all other acts
and
things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the Initial
Purchaser or Majority Holders and underwriter, selected by the Initial Purchaser
or Majority Holders, to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction
of
such Registrable Securities owned by the Holders; provided,
however, that neither the Company nor the Guarantor shall be required
to
(i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any
jurisdiction where they would not otherwise be required to qualify but for
this
Section 3(d), (ii) take any action which would subject them to general service
of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where they are not then so
subject, or (iii) conform their capitalization or the composition of their
assets at the time to the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction,
or
(iv) make any changes to their articles of association or any agreement
with their shareholders;
(e)
notify
promptly each Holder of Registrable Securities under a Shelf Registration
or any
Participating Broker-Dealer who has notified the Company that it is utilizing
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as provided in paragraph (f) below
(which notice pursuant to clauses (ii), (iv), (v) and (vi) hereof shall be
accompanied by an instruction to suspend use of the Prospectus until the
requisite changes have been made) and, if requested by such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer, confirm such advice in writing (if such notice
was
not originally given in writing) promptly (i) when a Registration Statement
has
become effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto
become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities
authority for post-effective amendments and supplements to a Registration
Statement and Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration
Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any
state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
of a
Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose,
(iv)
in
the case of a Shelf Registration, if, between the effective date of a
Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities
covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company or the
Guarantor contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement
or
other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to be true
and correct in all material respects, (v) of the occurrence of any event
or the
discovery of any facts during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is
effective which makes (A) any statement made in such Registration Statement
untrue in any material respect or which requires the making of any changes
in
such Registration Statement in order to include a material fact required
to be
stated therein or in order to make the statements therein not misleading
or (B)
any statement made in the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect
or
which requires the making of any changes in
13
such
Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (vi) of the receipt
by
the Company or the Guarantor of any notification with respect to the suspension
of the qualification of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities,
as the case may be, for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and (vii) of any determination
by
the Company or the Guarantor that a post-effective amendment to such
Registration Statement would be appropriate;
(f)
(i) in
the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (A) include in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution”
which section shall be reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchaser, on
behalf
of the Participating Broker-Dealers, if any, and which shall contain a summary
statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the SEC
with
respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that holds
Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities and that will be the beneficial owner
(as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Securities to be
received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer, including a statement
that
any such broker-dealer who receives Exchange Securities for Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be deemed a statutory underwriter
and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in
connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities, (B)
furnish to each Participating Broker-Dealer who has delivered to the Company
or
the Guarantor the notice referred to in Section 3(e), without charge, as
many
copies of each Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
including any preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto,
as such Participating Broker-Dealer may reasonably request, (C) hereby
consent to the use of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement together with any amendment or supplement thereto,
by any
Person subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the SEC, including
all
Participating Broker-Dealers, in connection with the sale or transfer of
the
Exchange Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, and (D) include in the transmittal letter or similar documentation
to
be executed by an exchange offeree in order to participate in the Exchange
Offer the following provision:
“If
the
undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not
engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities, it
represents that the Registrable Securities to be exchanged for Exchange
Securities were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus
meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of
such
Exchange Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, by so acknowledging
and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit
that
it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the 1933 Act;”
and
(ii)
in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and
the
Guarantor agree to deliver to the Initial Purchaser, on behalf of the
Participating Broker-Dealers upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement officers’ certificates substantially in the form
customarily delivered in a public offering of preferred securities;
14
(g)
(i) in
the case of an Exchange Offer, furnish one firm of counsel for the Initial
Purchaser and (ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish Sidley Austin
(UK) LLP, as special counsel for the Holders of Shelf Registrable Securities
(or, if Sidley Austin (UK) LLP is unable or unwilling to serve, such other
special counsel (but not more than one) as may be selected by Holders of
a
majority of such Shelf Registrable Securities (“Special Counsel”)), copies of
any comment letters received from the SEC or any other request by the SEC
or any state securities authority for amendments or supplements to a
Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional
information;
(h)
make
every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending
the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest practicable
moment;
(i)
in the
case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities,
and each underwriter, if any, without charge, at least one conformed copy
of
each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including
financial statements and schedules (without documents incorporated therein
by
reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested in writing);
(j)
in the
case of a Shelf Registration, (unless any Registrable Securities shall be
in
book-entry form only) cooperate with the Initial Purchaser or, if the Initial
Purchaser is not participating in the Shelf Registration, the Majority Holders
of Shelf Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Shelf Registrable Securities to be
sold
and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Shelf Registrable
Securities to be registered in such names as the Initial Purchaser or, if
the
Initial Purchaser is not participating in the Shelf Registration, the Majority
Holders or the underwriters, selected by the Initial Purchaser or Majority
Holders, if any, may reasonably request at least three business days prior
to
the closing of any sale of Shelf Registrable Securities;
(k)
in the
case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any event or the discovery
of any facts, each as contemplated by Sections 3(e)(v) and 3(e)(vi) hereof,
as
promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, subject to
section 2.4(c), use its reasonable best efforts to prepare a supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or the related Prospectus
or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required
document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Shelf
Registrable Securities or Participating Broker-Dealers, such Prospectus will
not
contain at the time of such delivery any untrue statement of a material fact
or
omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. At such time as such public disclosure is otherwise made
or the Company and the Guarantor determine that such disclosure is not
necessary, in each case to correct any misstatement of a material fact or
to
include any omitted material fact, the Guarantor agrees promptly to notify
each
Holder of such determination and to furnish each Holder such number of copies
of
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as such Holder may reasonably
request and the Initial Purchaser, on its own behalf and on behalf of subsequent
holders, hereby agrees to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company
has
amended or supplemented to correct such misstatement or omission;
15
(l)
in the
case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to the filing of any
Shelf
Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Shelf Registration
Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus (other than any document
which is to be incorporated by reference into a Shelf Registration Statement
or
a Prospectus after initial filing of a Shelf Registration Statement) provide
copies of such Registration Statement, Prospectus, amendment or supplement
to
the Initial Purchaser or, if the Initial Purchaser is not participating in
the
Shelf Registration, the Majority Holders on behalf of such Holders; and make
representatives of the Company and the Guarantor as shall be reasonably
requested by the Majority Holders of Shelf Registrable Securities, or the
Initial Purchaser on behalf of such Holders, available for discussion of
such
document;
(m)
obtain
a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, Private Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective
date of
a Registration Statement, and provide the Registrar and Transfer and Paying
Agent with printed certificates for the Exchange Securities, Private Exchange
Securities or the Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible
for deposit with the Depositary;
(n)
in the
case of a Shelf Registration, and considering the method of distribution
selected by the Majority Holders, enter into customary agreements (including
underwriting agreements and, if requested by the Initial Purchaser or, if
the
Initial Purchaser is not participating in the Shelf Registration, the Majority
Holders, as the case may be, securities sales agreements providing for, among
other things, the appointment of an agent for the selling Holders for the
purpose of soliciting purchases of Shelf Registrable Securities, which agreement
shall be in form, substance and scope customary for similar offerings) and
take
all other customary and appropriate actions in order to expedite or facilitate
the disposition of such Shelf Registrable Securities, including in the case
of
an underwritten offering:
(i)
make
such representations and warranties to the underwriters selected by the Initial
Purchaser or, if the Initial Purchaser is not participating in the Shelf
Registration, the Majority Holders, as the case may be, and to the Holders
selling through such underwriters, comparable in form, substance and scope
to
the representations and warranties made by the Company and the Guarantor
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement;
(ii)
if so
requested by the Initial Purchaser or, if the Initial Purchaser is not
participating in the Shelf Registration, the Majority Holders or the
underwriters selected by the Initial Purchaser or Majority Holders, as the
case
may be, obtain opinions of United States and Spanish counsel to the Company
and
the Guarantor (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
underwriters, if any, selected by the Initial Purchaser or, if the Initial
Purchaser is not participating in the Shelf Registration, the Majority Holders)
and updates thereof addressed to such underwriters and to the Holders selling
through such underwriters, covering matters comparable in form, substance
and
scope to those covered in the opinions delivered by the various counsels
to the
Company and the Guarantor pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and subject
to
exceptions and qualifications comparable in form, substance and scope to
those
contained in such delivered opinions;
16
(iii)
if
so requested by the Initial Purchaser or, if the Initial Purchaser is not
participating in the Shelf Registration, the Majority Holders or the
underwriters selected by the Initial Purchaser or Majority Holders, as the
case
may be, obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the Guarantor’s
independent certified public accountants (and, if necessary, any other
independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Guarantor,
including the Company or of any business acquired by the Guarantor for which
financial statements are, or are required to be, included in the Registration
Statement) addressed to the underwriters selected by the Initial Purchaser
or
the Majority Holders, as the case may be, and to the Holders selling through
such underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and in accordance
with
applicable accounting standards and covering matters of the type customarily
covered in “cold comfort” letters to underwriters in connection with similar
underwritten offerings;
(iv)
cause
the same to set forth indemnification provisions and procedures comparable
in
scope to the indemnification provisions and procedures set forth in Section
4
hereof with respect to the underwriters and all other parties to be indemnified
pursuant to said Section or, at the request of any underwriters, such other
indemnification provisions customarily provided to underwriters under the
circumstances applicable to the offering; provided, however, that
such underwriting agreement shall contain indemnification provisions and
procedures regarding the indemnification of the Company and the Guarantor
with
respect to information provided by the underwriter or by any other party
to be
indemnified under Section 4 hereof, comparable in scope to the indemnification
provisions and procedures set forth in Section 4 hereof or, at the
request of the Company or the Guarantor, such other indemnification
provisions customarily provided under the circumstances applicable to the
offering; and
(v)
deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested and
as
are customarily delivered in similar offerings to the Initial Purchaser or,
if
the Initial Purchaser is not participating in the Shelf Registration, the
Majority Holders and the underwriters, if any.
The
above
shall be done at each closing under any underwriting or similar agreement
as and
to the extent required thereunder;
(o)
in the
case of a Shelf Registration or if a Prospectus is required to be delivered
by
any Participating Broker-Dealer in the case of an Exchange Offer, make available
for inspection by representatives of the Initial Purchaser or, if the Initial
Purchaser is not participating in the Shelf Registration, the Majority Holders
and any underwriters selected by the Initial Purchaser or Majority Holders,
as
the case may be, participating in any disposition pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement, any Participating Broker-Dealer (provided that a
Participating Broker-Dealer shall not be deemed to be an underwriter solely
as a
result of it being required to deliver a prospectus in connection with any
resale of Exchange Securities), any Special Counsel or any accountant retained
by any of the foregoing, all such financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company and the Guarantor
reasonably requested by any such persons, and cause the respective officers,
directors, employees, and any other agents of the Company and the
17
Guarantor
to respond to such queries, as shall be reasonably necessary to conduct a
reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the 1933 Act;
provided, however, that such records, documents or information
which the Company or the Guarantor identifies as being confidential shall
not be
disclosed by the representative, Holder, attorney or accountant unless (i)
the
disclosure of such records, documents or information is necessary to avoid
or
correct a misstatement or omission in a Registration Statement, (ii) the
release
of such records, documents or information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena
or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction or as part of the
evidentiary procedures of a court of competent jurisdiction, subject to the
requirements of such subpoena or order, and only after such person shall
have
given the Company and the Guarantor reasonable prior notice of such
requirements; or (iii) such records, documents or information have previously
been generally made available to the public, and provided further, that
the Company and/or the Guarantor may require recipients of such records,
documents or information to enter into a confidentiality agreement;
(p)
(i) in
the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a reasonable time prior
to
the filing of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, any Prospectus forming
a part thereof, any amendment to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
or
amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, provide copies of such document
to
the Initial Purchaser and to Sidley Austin (UK) LLP, as counsel to the Holders
of Registrable Securities, and make such changes in any such document prior
to
the filing thereof as the Initial Purchaser or such counsel to the Holders
of
Registrable Securities may reasonably request and, except as otherwise required
by applicable law, not file any such document in a form to which the Initial
Purchaser on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Securities and such counsel
to
the Holders of Registrable Securities shall not have previously been advised
and
furnished with a copy or to which the Initial Purchaser on behalf of the
Holders
of Registrable Securities or such counsel to the Holders of Registrable
Securities shall reasonably object, and make the representatives of the Company
and the Guarantor available for discussion of such documents as shall be
reasonably requested by the Initial Purchaser; and
(ii)
in
the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to filing any Shelf
Registration Statement, any Prospectus forming a part thereof, any amendment
to
such Shelf Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to such Prospectus,
provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchaser or, if the Initial
Purchaser is not participating in the Shelf Registration, the Majority Holders,
or Special Counsel and to the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten
offering of Shelf Registrable Securities, if any, as appointed by the Initial
Purchaser or the Majority Holders, as the case may be, make such changes
in any
such document prior to the filing thereof as the Initial Purchaser, Special
Counsel or the underwriter or underwriters reasonably request and not file
any
such document in a form to which the Majority Holders of Shelf Registrable
Securities, the Initial Purchaser on behalf of the Holders of Registrable
Securities, Special Counsel or any underwriter shall not have previously
been
advised and furnished with a copy or to which such Majority Holders, the
Initial
Purchaser on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Securities, Special Counsel
or
any underwriter shall reasonably object, and make the representatives of
the
Company and the Guarantor available for discussion of such document as shall
be
reasonably requested by the Majority Holders, the Initial Purchaser on behalf
of
such Holders, Special Counsel or any underwriter;
18
(q)
in the
case of a Shelf Registration, use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Shelf
Registrable Securities to be rated by two nationally recognized statistical
rating agencies, if so requested by the Initial Purchaser or, if the Initial
Purchaser is not participating in the Shelf Registration, the Majority Holders,
or if requested by the underwriter or underwriters, as appointed by the Initial
Purchaser or, if the Initial Purchaser is not participating in the Shelf
Registration, the Majority Holders, of an underwritten offering of Registrable
Securities, if any;
(r)
otherwise comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and
make
available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an
earnings statement of the Guarantor covering at least 12 months which shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act, including, at the
option of the Guarantor, Rule 158 thereunder;
(s)
cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the NASD and,
in
the case of a Shelf Registration, in the performance of any due diligence
investigation by any underwriter as appointed by the Initial Purchaser or,
if
the Initial Purchaser is not participating in the Shelf Registration, the
Majority Holders and such underwriter’s counsel (including any “qualified
independent underwriter” that is required to be retained in accordance with the
rules and regulations of the NASD); and
(t)
upon
consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, obtain a customary
opinion of counsel to the Company and the Guarantor addressed to the Registrar
and Transfer and Paying Agent for the benefit of all Holders of Registrable
Securities participating in the Exchange Offer or Private Exchange, and which
includes an opinion that (i)
the
Company and the Guarantor have duly authorized, executed and delivered the
Exchange Securities and/or Private Exchange Securities, as applicable, (ii)
in
the case of the Preferred Securities, the Preferred Securities have been
validly
issued in accordance with Spanish law and will be fully paid and non-assessable,
and no holder thereof will be subject to personal liability by reason only
of
being such a holder, and the Preferred Securities will not be subject to
the
pre-emptive rights of any shareholder of the Company, and (iii) in the case
of
the Guarantee, the Guarantee has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by
each of the Company and the Guarantor and will constitute a valid and legally
binding agreement of the Guarantor and the Company, enforceable in accordance
with its terms (with customary exceptions).
In
the
case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor may
(as a
condition to such Holder’s participation in the Shelf Registration) require each
Holder of Shelf Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company and the
Guarantor such information regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution
by
such Holder of such Shelf Registrable Securities as the Company and the
Guarantor may from time to time reasonably request in writing for use in
connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein,
including without limitation, information specified in Item 507 of Regulation
S-K under the 1933 Act.
In
the
case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt
of
any notice from the Company or the Guarantor of the occurrence of any event
or
the discovery of any facts, each of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v)
hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration
19
Statement
until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(k) hereof, and, if so directed by the
Company or the Guarantor, such Holder will deliver to the Company or the
Guarantor (at the expense of the Company and the Guarantor) all copies in
such
Holder’s possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s
possession, of the Prospectus covering such Shelf Registrable Securities
current
at the time of receipt of such notice.
If
any of
the Registrable Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are
to be
sold in an underwritten offering, the underwriter or underwriters and manager
or
managers that will manage such offering will be selected by the Majority
Holders
of such Registrable Securities included in such offering, provided,
however, that such selection is acceptable to the Company. No
Holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s
Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and
(b)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements.
4.
Indemnification; Contribution.
(a)
Each
of the Company and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify
and
hold harmless the Initial Purchaser, its selling agents, each Holder, including
Participating Broker-Dealers, each Person who participates as an underwriter
(any such Person being an “Underwriter”), their respective affiliates (as such
term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an “Affiliate”)),
and each Person, if any, who “controls” any of such indemnified parties within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as
follows:
(i)
against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever,
as
incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a
material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) pursuant to which Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities were registered under the 1933 Act, including all documents
incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom
of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement
or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or
any
amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom
of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading;
(ii)
against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever,
as
incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency
or
body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any
such
untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission;
provided, however, that (subject to Section 4(d) below) any such
settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company or the Guarantor;
and
20
(iii)
against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including, in the case
where the indemnified parties are entitled to appoint counsel in accordance with
paragraph (c) of this Section), the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel
chosen by the indemnified parties) reasonably incurred in investigating,
preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
any
claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any
such
alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense
is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) above;
provided,
however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company
or the
Guarantor by the Holder or Underwriter expressly for use in a Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment
or
supplement thereto).
(b)
In the
case of a Shelf Registration, each Holder severally, but not jointly, agrees
to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Guarantor, the Initial Purchaser,
each Underwriter and the other selling Holders, and each of their respective
directors and officers, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company,
the
Guarantor, the Initial Purchaser, any Underwriter or any other selling
Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the
1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
described in the indemnity contained in Section 4(a) hereof, as incurred,
but
only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue
statements or omissions, made in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or any Prospectus included therein (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
with respect to such Holder furnished to the Company or the Guarantor by
such
Holder expressly for use in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto) or such Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto);
provided, however, that no such Holder shall be liable for any
claims hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds received by such
Holder
from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration
Statement; and provided further, that no such underwriter shall be liable
for any claims hereunder in excess of the amount of any underwriting fees
or
discounts received by such underwriter with respect to the sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(c)
Each
indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable
to
each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of
which
indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying
party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder
to
the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any
event
shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than
on
account of this indemnity agreement. The indemnifying party shall be
entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the
indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party and any other
indemnified parties as the indemnifying party may designate in any action
for
which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall
not
thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel
retained by the indemnified party or parties except as
21
set
forth
below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory
to
the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s
election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action,
the
indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including
local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees,
costs
and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by
the
indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such
counsel
with a conflict of interest; (ii) the actual or potential defendants in,
or
targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed
counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action;
or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ
separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party; provided, however,
that (i), (ii) and (iii) above notwithstanding, an indemnified party may
participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action. It
is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any
proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for
the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm for all
indemnified parties. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent
to
the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
or
any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution
could
be sought under this Section 4 (whether or not the indemnified parties are
actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise
or
consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from
all
liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim
and
(ii)
does
not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a
failure
to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d)
If at
any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party
to
reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel,
such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement
of the
nature contemplated by Section 4(a)(ii) effected without its written consent
if
(i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party
shall
have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior
to
such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall
not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request
prior
to the date of such settlement; provided, however, that an indemnifying
party shall not be liable for any such settlement effected without its consent
if such indemnifying party, prior to the date of such settlement, (x) reimburses
such indemnified party in accordance with such request for the amount of
such
fees and expenses of counsel as the indemnifying party believes in good faith
to
be reasonable, and (y) provides written notice to the indemnified party that
the
indemnifying party disputes in good faith the reasonableness of the unpaid
balance of such fees and expenses.
(e)
If the
indemnification provided for in this Section 4 is for any reason unavailable
or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party
22
shall
contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages
and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by
the
Company or the Guarantor on the one hand, the Initial Purchaser on another
hand, and the Holders on another hand, from the offering of the Exchange
Securities or Registrable Securities included in such offering or (ii) if
the
allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in
such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the
Guarantor on the one hand, the Initial Purchaser on another hand, and the
Holders on another hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which
resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well
as
any other relevant equitable considerations.
The
relative fault of the Company and the Guarantor on the one hand, and the
Initial
Purchaser on another hand, and the Holders on another hand, shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material
fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Guarantor, the Initial
Purchaser or the Holders and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.
The
Company, the Guarantor, the Holders and the Initial Purchaser agree that
it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section
4 were
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which
does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in
this
Section 4. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and
expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section
4 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending
against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental
agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon
any
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.
Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section 4, the Initial Purchaser shall not be required
to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at
which
the Preferred Securities purchased and sold by it were offered exceeds the
amount of any damages which the Initial Purchaser has otherwise been required
to
pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.
No
Person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f)
of
the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For
purposes of this Section 4, each Person, if any, who controls the Initial
Purchaser or a Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act and the Initial Purchaser’s or Holder’s Affiliates
and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Initial Purchaser or such Holder, and each Person, if any, who controls the
Company or the Guarantor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as
the
Company and the Guarantor.
23
5.
Miscellaneous.
5.1
Rule 144 and Rule 144A. For so long as the Guarantor is subject to the
reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the 1934 Act, the Guarantor
covenants that it will file the reports required to be filed by it under
Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the
SEC
thereunder. If the Guarantor ceases to be so required to file such
reports, the Guarantor covenants that it will upon the request of any Holder
of
Registrable Securities (a) make publicly available such information as is
necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, (b) deliver
such information to a prospective purchaser as is necessary under applicable
rules and regulations to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933
Act
and it will take such further action as any Holder of Registrable Securities
may
reasonably request, and (c) take such further action that is reasonable in
the
circumstances, in each case, to the extent required from time to time to
enable
such Holder to sell its Registrable Securities without registration under
the
1933 Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144
under
the 1933 Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A
under the 1933 Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (iii)
any
similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request
of
any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Guarantor will deliver to such
Holder
a written statement as to whether it has complied with such
requirements. The Guarantor’s obligations under this Section 5.1
shall terminate upon the later of the consummation of the Exchange Offer
and the
Effectiveness Period.
5.2
No
Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor the Guarantor has entered
into, and neither the Company nor the Guarantor will after the date of this
Agreement enter into, any agreement that could interfere with the Company’s or
the Guarantor’s performance of their obligations hereunder or that could prevent
or limit the Holders of Registrable Securities from enjoying the rights granted
to them hereunder. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not, and
will
not for the term of this Agreement, in any way conflict with any material
rights
granted to the holders of the Company’s, the Guarantor’s or any of the
Guarantor’s subsidiaries’ other issued and outstanding preferred securities
under any such agreements.
5.3
Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the
provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented,
and
waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given
unless the Company and the Guarantor have obtained the written consent of
Holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or
departure.
5.4
Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted
hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, registered first-class
mail, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (a) if to
a
Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by
means
of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.4,
which
address initially is the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement with
respect to the Initial Purchaser; and (b) if to the Company or the Guarantor,
initially at the address of the Guarantor set forth in the Purchase Agreement,
and thereafter at such other address of which notice is given in accordance
with
the provisions of this Section 5.4.
24
All
such
notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the
time
delivered by hand, if personally delivered; two business days after being
deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged,
if telecopied; and on the next business day if timely delivered to an air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies
of
all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be concurrently
delivered by the person giving the same to the Registrar and Transfer and
Paying
Agent at the address specified in the Registrar and Transfer and Paying Agency
and Calculation Agency Agreement.
5.5
Successor and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of
each
of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an
express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided, however, that
nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other
disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase
Agreement or the Registrar and Transfer and Paying Agency and Calculation
Agency
Agreement. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable
Securities, in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such
Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such person
shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform
all of
the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on
resale
set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement and
the
Registrar and Transfer and Paying Agency and Calculation Agency Agreement,
and
such person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
5.6
Third Party Beneficiaries. The Initial Purchaser (even if the Initial
Purchaser is not a Holder of Registrable Securities) shall be a third party
beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, and shall
have
the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such
enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of
Holders hereunder. Each Holder of Registrable Securities shall be a third
party
beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on the other hand,
and
shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it
deems
such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights
hereunder.
5.7
Specific Enforcement. Without limiting the remedies available to the
Initial Purchaser and the Holders, the Company and the Guarantor acknowledge
that any failure by the Company or the Guarantor to comply with their joint
and
several obligations under Sections 2.1 through 2.4 hereof may result in material
irreparable injury to the Initial Purchaser or the Holders for which there
is no
adequate remedy at law, that it would not be possible to measure damages
for
such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial
Purchaser or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to
specifically enforce the Company’s or the Guarantor’s joint and several
obligations under Sections 2.1 through 2.4 hereof.
5.8
Restriction on Resales. Until the expiration of two years after
the original issuance of the Preferred Securities, neither the Company nor
the
Guarantor will, and will cause their
25
“affiliates”
(as such term is defined in Rule 144(a)(1) under the 0000 Xxx) not to, resell
any Preferred Securities which are “restricted securities” (as such term is
defined under Rule 144(a)(3) under the 0000 Xxx) that have been reacquired
by
any of them.
5.9
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
5.10
Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference
only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
5.11
GOVERNING
LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; APPOINTMENT OF AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS;
FOREIGN TAXES; JUDGMENT CURRENCY.
(a)
THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS
OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS
THEREOF.
(b)
Each
of the Initial Purchaser, the Company and the Guarantor irrevocably consents
and
agrees that any legal action, suit or proceeding against it with respect
to its
obligations, liabilities or any other matter arising out of or based on this
Agreement may be brought in any United States federal or state court in the
State of New York, County of New York.
(c)
To the
extent that either the Company, the Guarantor or any of their respective
properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled
to, or
have attributed to them, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty,
from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from set-off or counterclaim,
from
the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon
or
prior to judgment, or from attachment in aid of execution of judgment, or
from
execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving
of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction
in
which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to their
obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement or any additional agreement, the Company and
the
Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally, to the extent permitted
by
applicable law, waive and agree not to plead or claim any such immunity and
consent to such relief and enforcement.
(d)
Each
of the Company and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably designates, appoints
and
empowers the Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., New York Branch, currently
at 1345 Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, as
their
designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and
on
their behalf, and their properties, assets and revenues, service of any and
all
legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any
action, suit or proceeding brought against them in any such United States
or
state court located in the County of New York with respect to their obligations,
liabilities or any other matter arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement and that may be made on such designee, appointee and agent in
accordance with legal procedures prescribed for such courts. If for any reason
such designee, appointee and agent
26
hereunder
shall cease to be available to act as such, the Company and the Guarantor
agree
to designate a new designee, appointee and agent in the County of New York
on
the terms and for the purposes of this Section 5.11(d) satisfactory to the
Initial Purchaser or the Majority Holders, as the case may be. The
Company and the Guarantor further hereby irrevocably consent and agree to
the
service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents in any
such
action, suit or proceeding against them by serving a copy thereof upon the
relevant agent for service of process referred to in this Section 5.11(d)
(whether or not the appointment of such agent shall for any reason prove
to be
ineffective or such agent shall accept or acknowledge such service) or by
mailing copies thereof by registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid,
to
the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, at the Guarantor’s address
specified in the Purchase Agreement. The Company and the Guarantor
agree that the failure of any such designee, appointee and agent to give
any
notice of such service to it shall not impair or affect in any way the validity
of such service or any judgment rendered in any action or proceeding based
thereon. Nothing herein shall in any way be deemed to limit the
ability of the Initial Purchaser or the Majority Holders, as the case may
be, to
serve any such legal process, summons, notices and documents in any other
manner
permitted by applicable law or to obtain jurisdiction over the Company and
the
Guarantor or bring actions, suits or proceedings against it in such other
jurisdictions, and in such manner, as may be permitted by applicable law.
The
Company and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive, to
the
fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that they may now or hereafter
have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions, suits or
proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement brought in
the
U.S. federal courts located in the County of New York or the courts of the
State
of New York located in the County of New York and hereby further irrevocably
and
unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that
any
such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought
in an
inconvenient forum. The provisions of this Section 5.11(d) shall
survive termination of this Agreement, in whole or in part.
(e)
All
payments by the Company or the Guarantor to the Initial Purchaser hereunder
shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for
or on
account of, any and all present and future income, stamp or other taxes,
levies,
imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, now or hereinafter
imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by the Kingdom of Spain
or any
other jurisdiction in which the Guarantor or the Company has an office from
which payment is made or deemed to be made, excluding (i) any such tax imposed
by reason of the Initial Purchaser having some connection with any such
jurisdiction other than its participation as Initial Purchaser hereunder,
and
(ii) any income or franchise tax on the overall net income of the Initial
Purchaser imposed by the United States or by the State of New York or any
political subdivision of the United States or of the State of New York (all
such
non-excluded taxes, “Foreign Taxes”), provided, however, that no
additional amounts shall be due from the Company or the Guarantor, as the
case
may be, to the Initial Purchaser, if the Company or the Guarantor, as
applicable, are not obligated to pay any such additional amounts under the
terms
of the Preferred Securities. If the Company or the Guarantor is
prevented by operation of law or otherwise from paying, causing to be paid
or
remitting that portion of amounts payable hereunder represented by Foreign
Taxes
withheld or deducted, then amounts payable under this Agreement shall, to
the
extent permitted by law, be increased to such amount as is necessary to yield
and remit to the Initial Purchaser an amount which, after deduction of
all
27
Foreign
Taxes (including all Foreign Taxes payable on such increased payments) equals
the amount that would have been payable if no Foreign Taxes
applied.
(f)
The
Company and the Guarantor jointly and severally agree to indemnify the Initial
Purchaser against any loss incurred by the Initial Purchaser as a result
of any
judgment or order being given or made for any amount due hereunder and such
judgment or order being expressed and paid in a currency (the “Judgment
Currency”) other than U.S. dollars and as a result of any variation as between
(i) the rate of exchange at which the U.S. dollar amount is converted into
the
Judgment Currency for the purpose of such judgment or order, and (ii) the
rate
of exchange at which the Initial Purchaser is able to purchase U.S. dollars
with
the amount of the Judgment Currency actually received by the Initial
Purchaser. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and
independent obligation of the Company and the Guarantor and shall continue
in
full force and effect notwithstanding any such judgment or order as
aforesaid. The term “rate of exchange” shall include any premiums and
costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of, or conversion
into, the relevant currency.
5.12
Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability
of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
28
IN
WITNESS
WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written
above.
BBVA
INTERNATIONAL PREFERRED, S.A.
UNIPERSONAL,
as
Issuer
|
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Title: | Director | ||
BANCO
BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A.,
as
Guarantor
|
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Ma Xxxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxx Ma Urresti | ||
Title: | Deputy CFO |
29
CONFIRMED
AND ACCEPTED
as
of the
date first above written:
XXXXXX
BROTHERS INC.
|
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
Title: | Senior Vice President |
30